Gallery ︎︎︎
Framing the Present, Reflecting the Past
A pure and thoughtful exhibition space on the Grand Canal“The architecture distills everything to its essence, allowing the space to engage in a silent dialogue with the viewer and the surroundings.”
Sonja Berthold, principal and founder
The exhibition space for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021 occupies the ground floor of a noble Venetian palace, nestled in the historic San Polo district, where the Riva del Vin meets the Sotoportego del Traghetto. From its position along the Grand Canal, the setting creates a seamless dialogue between the rich, layered history of Venice and the contemporary visions of architecture housed within.
The spatial arrangement unfolds in a sequence of understated rooms, beginning with a quiet reception area that sets the tone for what follows: a journey into spaces left in their purest, most elemental form. The rooms retain their original character while embracing the exhibition content with minimal interventions. Only three projections descend from the ceiling, their technology discreetly hidden from view, preserving the visual calm.
There is an exquisite interplay between the interior and the exterior, particularly in the room overlooking the garden, where the relationship between future urban scenarios and the historic Venetian surroundings is delicately framed. The design invites the visitor to pause and contemplate, drawing their gaze both outward to the garden and inward to the video sequences displayed across the main exhibition space.
Monitors provide essential explanations, guiding visitors through the narrative with subtlety, while the delicately crafted signage by Studio Joost Grootens enhances the clarity and elegance of the space. The overall composition is serene and uncluttered, offering space for the content to breathe. Here, the eye and the mind are allowed to dwell undisturbed, free to engage fully with the material.
In its refined simplicity, the space amplifies the essence of the exhibition, placing emphasis on the visitor’s encounter with architecture, offering them the freedom to engage at their own pace and in their own way.
Signage: Studio Joost Grootens, Amsterdam
Exhibition photography: Frederico Torra, Milan & Paris